Adjustable size garments



Jan. 15, r1957 c. KELLER ADJUSTABLE SIZE GARMENTS Filed June 14, 1954 C.KELLER ADJUSTABLE SIZE GARMENTS Jan. 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune 14, 1954 INVENTOR. CLARE KELLER mgm@ United States Patent OADJUSTABLE SIZE GARMENTS Claris Keller, Union, N. J.

Application June 14, 1954, Serial No. 436,465

2 Claims. (Cl. 2-75) This invention relates to wearing apparel and, moreparticularly, to means for forming removable pleats at the neck line ofa garment, and also at the waistline.

An important object is to provide pleats that can be opened tofacilitate washing and ironing.

Another object is to effect opening and closing of the pleats by meansof an inexpensive tie passed through loops associated with therespective pleats in back of said garment.

Yet another object is to form the loops by providing longitudinallyspaced pairs of slits in a tape extending along an adjacent edge portionof the garment.

Another object is to provide means as stated which, when embodied in theneck line, can include a plurality of groups of pleats spaced apartabout said neck line to provide an attractive garment design.

A further object is to so form and arrange groups of removable pleatsabout a neck line as to permit said pleats to be used for changing theappearance and general type of neck line, and also for changing thelength of the garment. It is proposedin this way to particularly adaptthe invention for embodiment in childrens dresses, in which adjustmentsfor length due to the childs growing must be made with notablefrequency.

It is further proposed that the neck line and waistline ypleats coact tochange both the length and waist of the garment in selective amounts toinsure a proper fit at` all times during the childs growth.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing the pleat means embodied in thefront of the neck line of the blouse, the pleats being shown as theywould appear .when the blouse is being worn.

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged sectional view on line 2--2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 in which the pleats have been opened,portions being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the inside of the opened pleats asseen from the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 yis an enlarged transverse sectional view substanmuy on line s sof Fig. 4. t

Fig. 6 is a view showing a modified neck line pleating ICC Fig. 10 is anenlarged sectional view on line 10--10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. ll is a sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modification.

Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view on line 13--13 of Fig. 12.

The reference numeral 10 has been applied generally in Fig. l to ablouse, although at this point it will be noted that the pleats embodiedin the neck line of said blouse could, with equal facility, be formed inthe neck line of any other suitable item of wearing apparel, such as adress. In any event, a front group of pleats is provided on said neckline, and has been designated generally bythe reference numeral 12.

As will be noted, the material of the garment 10 has been designated bythe reference numeral 14, and secured to the neck line of the garment isa tape 16 extending along said neck line for the full circumferencethereof in the present instance. The tape could be extended onlypartially through the neck line circumference if desired, but in eitherevent the tape, as shown in Fig. 5, is registered along one longitudinaledge, with the neck line edge, extending lengthwise of the neck lineedge on the inner side of the fabric body 14 of the garment.

The tape 16 is stitched as at 18 to the fabric body 14, throughout thelength of the inner longitudinal edge of said tape. Straddling the outerlongitudinal edge of the tape, and the registering edge of the fabricbody 14, is a binding 20, stitched to the tape and body 14 as at 22.

Formed at selected intervals longitudinally of the tape 16 are pairs ofslits, the slits of each pair extending transversely of the tape 16 andterminating inwardly of the lines of stitching 18, 22. Each pair ofslits deiines a transversely extending loop 24 in the tape, the ends ofwhich can be reinforced against tearing by lines of stitching 26extending longitudinally of the tape across the end portions of the loop24.

A tie, formed from a length of ribbon material or the like, has beendesignated by the reference numeral 28, and is passed through theseveral loops 24. The tie 28, when drawn tight as in Fig. 2, contractsthe normally widely spaced loops 24 into close proximity to one another,thereby to fold upon themselves the portions of the gar-ment interveningbetween said loops, to define pleats 30.

It will be observed that when the garment is to be washed and ironed,the tie would be loosened as in Figs. 3 and 4, and could, in fact, becompletely removed. In this event, the removal of the tie permits thegarment to be spread ilat, with the pleats being fully opened. Washingand ironing of the garment is thus measurably facilitated. Of course, assoon as the garment is to be worn, the tie can be drawn tight to formthe `several pleats, thereby increasing the attractiveness of thegarment to a substan-tial extent.

As shown in Figs. 6-8, `shoulder or side groups of pleats 34 can beused, at `opposite edges -of each of the shoulder strap portions 35 `ofa sleeveless garment 32, and as shown in Fig. 7 could be left open, whenthe garment is being worn, thus to increase the size of the neck lineand permit the blouse or other item Iof wearing apparel to be worn inlan off-the-shoulder effect. ln other words, the neck line size and typecan be changed by reason of the pleating arrangement shown, andincreases the Versatility of the garment. Further, as will presentlyappear, the overall length of lthe garment can be changed. The shoulderstrap portions are formed as relatively Ishort pieces of material setint-o the garment at the shoulders and Vstitched at their front and backedges to spaced end.

portions of the shoulder straps. As shown in the drawings, shoulderstraps or portions 35 have a tapered shape so as to be wider adjacentthe arm Openings than adjacent the neck opening (see Figure 7).

In this form of the invention, in providing the inner Apleat group 34 ofeach shoulder strap portion, a tape can be Aextended about the neckline, in the same manner as in the tirst form, which tape would beformed with spaced pairs of slits denin'g tie-receiving loops 36. Theloops 36 are adapted to form, at Vthe shoulders of the garment, pleats38 extending outwardly in opposite directions from the neck inside-by-side relation, that is, extending from the neck line in thedirection of the arm openings of the garment. A tie lo is passed throughthe several loops 36, and when desired, is pulled upon to draw the loopstogether and form the several pleats 3S, the tie being knotted in a bowor its equivalent.

Similar tapes are extended about the edges of the arm openings so as tobe disposed at the outside edge of cach shoulder strap and are vprovidedwith loops and ties aligned transversely of the shoulder strap with theloops 36 and tie 40.

In this way, shoulder pleatings are provided on the garment, making thegarment appear as -in Fig. 6. At this time, the neck line of the garmentis relatively reduced in size, and the entire garment is pulled upwardlyby gathering of the shoulder portions thereof, thus in effect reducingythe garment length.

If it is desired to extend the length of the garment due to the childsgrowing, the pleats are left open as in Fig. 7 at the shoulders 41 ofthe garment. This causes the neck line to be increased in respect to itssize, and may also cause the general type of neck line to be changed.Thus, the opening of the pleats can provide an Aoit-the-shoulder neckline on the garment. Further, the lowering of the shoulder portions ofthe garment in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7 will increase theoverall length of the garment,

to better accommodate the same to the childs height.

Of course, the invention is adapted not only for incorporation inchildrens dresses, but in adults garments as well.

In Figs. 9 and l0, a modified frontfpleating is illustrated,incorporated in a garment 42. In this form, the pleats are arranged in agroup 44, the pleats 46 of said group being at. However, theloops 48associated with the respective pleats, receiving a tie t), are the sameas in the first form, so that the pleats can be opened or closed atwill.

In Figs. 6 and l1, waist pleat groups 52, spaced apart at the front ofthe garment, are formed by securing a tape 54 to the inner surface ofthe garment by stitching 56. The tape extends through the fullcircumference of the garment in the illustrated example, but it can beconiined to the front if desired. In any event, at the locationsselected for pleat groups 52, the tape is slit to form loops in the samemanner as tape 16 and a tie is passed through each series of loops soformed. Thus, when the child is small the pleats at the waist can begathered as in Fig. 6. When the waist size increases on account of thechilds growth, the waist pleats are opened as in Fig. 7.

In Figs. 12 and 13, the garment 58 includes a body 60. The shoulderportions 62 Iof the garment, unlike shoulder portions 35, includesleeves. Each portion 62 is iirst cut to a suitable shape from apattern, and its ends are then stitched together at 64. The portions 62are then stitched at front and back as at 65 to 'the adjacent parts ofthe garment body, thus providing in the garment shoulder portions formedwith sleeves having arm openings 66 about which are provided bindings68.

Each shoulder portion 62 has an outer group 70 of pleats 72 formed by atie 74 extended through interiorly located loops, in the mannerpreviously described herein. An inner group 76 of pleats 78 at thegarment neck line, is also provided, and may as shown be somewhatsmaller than the group 70. This promotes proper hanging of thc garmentfrom the shoulders when the pleats 72, 78 are left open. A tie 8d isused for joining the pleats 78, and extending about the neckline is acontinuous length ol binding 32.

inall forms of the invention, of course, there is the common desirablecharacteristic wherein the pleats can be fully opened to facilitatewashing and ironing. Further, in all forms the opening of the pleats orclosing thereof can be selectively employed to vary the appearance otthe garment. Still further, it is `to be understood that in each form,the tie can be passed through any desired number of the loops, `thusreducing or increasing the number of pleats in each particular group otpleats, to any extent desired. This may be particularly advantageous inthe form shown in Figs. 6-8, in which a number of adjustments for lengthand waist size of the garment can bc etected, by selection of a selectednumber of loops 36 through which the ties 40 are to be passed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that l do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved 'to allchanges and modiiications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent l. An adjustable size garment,comprising a garment body having neck and arm openings formed thereinwith opposite shoulder portions extending between each of said armopenings and the portion of the neck opening adjacent thereto, meansincluding a pair of spaced arrays of loops extending along each of saidshoulder portions with one larray adjacent to the arm opening edge andthe other adjacent to the neck opening edge of each of said shoulderportions, and Va tie for `each of said arrays of loops for drawing thesame together and forming ornamental pleats in the material of saidshoulder 'portions thereby to alter `the size including the length ofsaid garment in accordance with the extent to which said loops are drawntogether.

2. An adjustable size garment, comprising a garment body having neck andarm openings formed therein with opposite shoulder portions extendingbetween each of said arm openings and the portion of the neck openingadjacent thereto, said shoulder portions each being tapered andincreasing in width outwardly from the neck opening to the shoulderopening, means including a pair of spaced arrays of loops extendingalong each of said shoulder portions with one array adjacent to the armopening edge and the other adjacent to the neck opening edge of each ofsaid shoulder portions, `and a tie for each of said arrays of loops fordrawing the same together and forming ornamental pleats in the materialof said shoulder `portions thereby to alter the size including thelength of said garment in accordance with the extent to which `saidloops are drawn together.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,078,217ouerns Nov. 11, 1913 1,524,345 Du Bo'se Jan. 27, 1925 2,492,097 KatzDec. 20, 1949 2,649,589 Shltong Aug. 25, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,598Great Britain Apr. 22, 1905 11,094 Great vBritain May 27, 1899 148,295Austria Ian. 11, 1937

